When Caroline flees Chicago following the brutal murder of her husband, the last thing she expects—or wants—is to fall for Matt Carlson, a builder with strong roots in the small town of Mountainview, Tennessee. She needs to focus on raising her six-year-old daughter and protecting both their hearts from ever being shattered again.

Matt is struggling with issues of his own…guilt over the death of his wife and the responsibility of raising a cynical teenaged nephew who is dropped on his doorstep, abandoned by Matt's alcoholic sister. He doesn't have time to fall in love, yet he can't help being drawn to the woman who is ready to defend her home—and her daughter—with nothing more than a feisty attitude and a broom handle.

Can Matt's help and friendship convince Caroline to trust again…and when Caroline's daughter goes missing, will Matt be able to find the girl before it's too late and he loses everything he loves…again?

Let’s find out a little about Mary, shall we? What does a normal workday look like for you?During the school year I get up at 3am and head to the quiet confines of my classroom, where I write until the students arrive. I have found that driving to work on the dark, quiet roads is quite pleasant (no rush hour...yeah)! In the evening I like to spend time with my husband and daughter, so I don't do much writing then...maybe a bit of follow-up on emails and marketing.

But in the summer, when school is out, it's GAME ON. I get up with my husband, usually about 6:30, and begin to write as soon as he leaves for work and until he gets home in the evening. it's not unusual for me to spend 10-12 hours straight at my computer. I love days like that. In the evening my husband and I like to ride our bikes or take long walks and then sit on our porch swing and talk. I used to be OCD about housecleaning, but as you can imagine, my standards have become a bit more lax. Who wants to clean the house when they can write instead?

Are you a plotter or a pantser?Oh, I am definitely a pantser! I pray before I begin each story, and am led to a Bible verse. I have an idea--usually just a scene--and the story goes from there. When I get stuck, I mow! I live on two acres, and I love to push mow. My husband thinks I'm nuts, and my neighbors used to, as well. But now when they see me they know I'm writing, too...just in my head. Once my husband tried to take over the mowing, and we actually owned a riding mower for about two months. Then we sold it!

Anyway...back to writing. I do a lot of self-editing as I go along, usually beginning with the previous day's work and moving forward from there. It seems to save time in the long run, at least for me, and helps to keep my writing 'cleaner and tighter'.

What are some of your favorite things to do when you’re not writing? Least favorite? I love to take long walks with my husband and work in the yard. I like to run, too. I have run three marathons, and I think the mental mindset there is much the same as that needed for writing. A writer, like a runner, must be extremely dedicated and methodical, and must be willing to endure a measure of pain and sacrifice in order to accomplish the task.

I also like to read. That's the one thing I miss since I've started writing more...I don't have the time to read as much as I used to. But i still make some time, because reading is an important part of writing.

My least favorite thing to do, I would say, is shopping. Especially if it's a warm and sunny day. I'd much rather be outside than stuck at the mall...with a million people. Yuck!

If you had a Friday night all to yourself, what would you do?Wow...it's been so long since I've had a Friday night all to myself. I think I'd curl up with a good book (one from the White Rose catalog, of course!) and read in the peace and quiet...aaahhh...Thanks so much for stopping by, Mary. Congrats on the release of Buried Treasures!

Mary Manners is an award-winning author of inspirational romance who lives in the beautiful foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with her husband and teen-aged daughter. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and Smoky Mountain Romance Writers.

During the school year, she teaches middle-schoolers reading and Algebra. In her free time, she likes to garden, take long walks with her husband, and read romance novels in a hammock beneath century-old shade trees.